ESX-8CV CV Expander

The ESX-8CV is an expansion module for the ES-4, ES-40 or ES-5, adding eight CV outputs from one expansion header. In order to squeeze eight 12 bit channels through one 8 bit connection, the channels are time-multiplexed and so effectively run at between one-third and one-twenty fourth of the audio sample rate. For example, if the audio interface/DAW is running at 48kHz, the ESX-8CV’s outputs are running at between 16kHz and 2kHz, depending on how many channels are active. This is still plenty fast enough for most CV purposes, except for audio-rate modulation and the very fastest envelopes. Because the outputs are still derived from the audio stream, they retain the advantages of the ES-3/4 over traditional MIDI-based interfaces, that is, rock solid timing and absence of jitter. The outputs are hardware calibrated and so do not require the use of e.g. Silent Way‘s software calibration when used with standard V/octave synths/oscillators. That said, the ESX-8CV’s 12 bit resolution is adequate to perform software calibration if required (e.g. to cater for misbehaving oscillators that don’t track well to a standard calibration), or to support oscillators with a Hz/V response.

Current draw: 51mA on the +12V rail, 41mA on the -12V rail (92mA total)

The front panel is drilled for both Doepfer and Analogue Systems mounting holes (using a ‘slot’ rather than a single round hole). The power connector is a Doepfer standard 16 way IDC, with -12V furthest from the top of the board. For more detail, please see the user manual.

Software Requirements

The ESX-8CV requires software in order to time-multiplex the eight output signals, and to encode them for the ES-4 or ES-5. Currently, the only such software is the ‘ESX-8CV Combiner’ plug-in, part of Expert Sleepers Silent Way, and our Max/MSP external (see below). Silent Way is available in AudioUnit, VST & AAX formats for Mac OS X and Windows. Use of Silent Way therefore requires a compatible host application (DAW). A Silent Way licence is not included with the ESX-8CV – however, the ESX-8CV Combiner plug-in functions in a licence-free mode, so ESX-8CV users are not forced to buy Silent Way. Such users can than evaluate the rest of the Silent Way suite in demo mode.

Max/MSP External

We provide an ‘external’ for Max/MSP to enable users of Max to easily integrate the ESX-8CV into their patchers. This can be downloaded from the downloads page.